Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs on October 28, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday it was looking into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the military to “correct” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration. 

The bureau is verifying whether Duterte’s statement in an online press conference is authentic and not computer-generated, said NBI Director Jaime Santiago.

“Pinag-aaralan po namin ‘yang maigi. Pero ganoon din, kami ay nagti-take action na, kung authentic ang kaniyang video clip na yun, yung kaniyang pahayag. Ginagawa na namin ang nararapat na hakbang,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. 

“Lalo na po ngayon, napakagaling sa ating social media, mayroong mga deepfake, mayroong mga AI-generated kaya inaalam namin yung maigi,” the official added. 

Duterte on Monday evening urged the military to "correct" an alleged "fracture in governance", which he said stemmed from an alleged "attempt" to change the constitution.

"There is no relief. It is only the military who can correct it," he said.

"Itong fracture na ito mabigat 'to because 'yung nasa taas Congress pati ang presidente, they are trying to be in cahoots. They would attempt to change the constitution…to make Martin [Romualdez] from Speaker mag-transition to a parliamentary prime minister. Ceremonial president na lang si Marcos," Duterte claimed without offering proof.

He issued the remarks on the same day that his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, faced a House inquiry into her use of confidential funds.

Duterte says row involving daughter ‘insignificant’; shrugs off calls for ‘people power’

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday called out ex-President Duterte’s "selfish" motive in supposedly "calling for a sitting president to be overthrown" so that his daughter could take over the government.  

Bersamin claimed the former President would “go to great and evil lengths” for his plan to succeed, including insulting the AFP “by asking them to betray their oath.”

"The former president should respect the Constitution, not disobey it. He should desist from being as irresponsible as he has become," the Palace official said in a statement.

No need for loyalty check amid Marcos-Duterte rift -- AFP

Bersamin said the Marcos administration “will not shirk from its sworn duty to govern and manage the affairs of the Filipino Nation according to the Constitution and the Rule of Law,” and “will defend its legacy before the Filipino People only by lawful means.”

“The state will act resolutely to go against all unlawful attempts and challenges,” the Executive Secretary said.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang marahas na pang-aagaw ng kapangyarihan upang madaling maluklok bilang pangulo sa pamamagitan ng pagpaslang, panggugulo at pag-aalsa,” he continued.

Palace tells Rodrigo Duterte to respect constitution after call for AFP to correct 'fractured governance'

The NBI is also probing Vice President Duterte’s separate remarks that she had instructed that Marcos, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos be killed should an alleged plot to kill her succeed. 

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The agency on Tuesday served a subpoena for the younger Duterte to appear at the NBI headquarters on Friday and explain her alleged assassination threat against Marcos. 

“Ang next po, hintayin natin yung Friday kung a-appear ba si Vice President Sara. Dapat po mag-appear siya personally, marami kaming tanong sa kanya. But she can bring with her ang lawyer niya,” Santiago said. 

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